Ghost On Duty (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by J. D. Winters Page A

quality.  
    “Who? What happened? Was it Bobby?”
    “No, it was not Bobby. I went out to Ned’s house to look around and some wild haired guy in ragged clothes and a red scarf came out of the forest behind the house and took a shot at me. So don’t tell me I don’t know anything about murder. I’ll bet the same guy who tried to kill me killed Ned.”
    “A red….no!” Her voice was shaking. “Oh no. Not Jasper! Don’t let it be Jasper.”
    “What? Who’s Jasper?”
    “No!” she half-sobbed, and broke off the connection.  
    I tried to call her back but it was no use. Who on earth was Jasper and why did she care so much?  
    A new mystery. I was getting tired of them.  

    I found a parking place on the street downtown, about a block from the printer. It was already four thirty so I was in a bit of a hurry. I had to walk past the ground floor of the Excelsior Hotel to get there, and just as I was making that trip, I caught sight of Lance going in the large glass front door.  
    For some reason, instead of hailing him and laughing about the coincidence of us meeting this way again after less than half an hour since we’d said goodbye, I found myself drawing back into the foliage that filled the front area and watching him. He walked into the lobby, checked his watch impatiently, then went over to the bank of elevators and stood watching as one after another, each of the six cars emptied out its occupants. He was waiting for someone to come down from his room. I watched, biting my lip. Why did I care? I was half angry with myself for spying like this. But somehow, I couldn’t stop.  
    And then I saw who he was waiting for. I did a double take, thinking it must just be someone who looked like Gary Kramer. I mean, Gary Kramer was the environmental activist saintly person who was hiking the Pacific Trail and camping out at night—living with nature. Wasn’t he?
    Or maybe not. He seemed instead to be the guy with money and a cushy position in life if he could afford night after night at the Excelsior. No wonder he turned down Bebe’s offer of sleeping on her couch!
    And what on earth could Lance have to talk to him about?
    They seemed to be on friendly terms. After talking for a moment, they went into the hotel lounge together and I assume they were going to have a drink. I didn’t go in. I didn’t see how I could pull that off without being seen. Besides, the printer was going to close for the night. So I came out of the greenery and headed over there, thinking hard all the time. What was Lance up to?
    I got the ballots. The box wasn’t really heavy and I considered going into the hotel as I walked back by it. Then I reconsidered. What on earth could my reasoning be for trailing those two men into the bar? I could just see myself trying to explain that one and I gave up without too much regret. After all, what did I care what Lance and Gary had in common?
    It was already getting dark out and Christmas lights were coming on all up and down the street. Despite the depressing things I’d been involved in lately, holiday lights always lifted my spirits. And I don’t think I’m the only one—people I passed seemed more ready to smile than they’d been earlier.  
    Christmas. A magic time.  
    I took the ballots home for Bebe to deliver in the morning, and then I made myself a little sandwich—left-over shredded kalua pork on some sweet rolls, Hawaiian style, with a little coleslaw and barbecue sauce. Yummy.  
    Aunty Jane stuck her head into the kitchen. “You got company,” she whispered, then vanished.

Chapter Ten

    I listened. Sure enough, there went the doorbell. “Thanks, Aunty,” I called out, just so she knew she was appreciated. I went to the front door.  
    And there was Roy, holding Silver in his arms.  
    “Oh!” I muted my first instinct, which was to shriek with happiness, knowing that was usually the worst way possible to greet a cat. Instead I backed off and let Roy put Silver down on